by Safiya Allaf | Jan 24, 2025 | Hospital, Mental Health, Stories, Young people's voices, Youth Work
He was reluctant to speak when we first met Max* through our Hospital Navigators project. But after getting to know us and accepting support, his confidence skyrocketed – and he’s now a regular volunteer at Together As One. This is his story.
But first, here’s a bit about the Hospital Navigators.
The Hospital Navigators project is made up of youth workers and trained volunteers who support young people present at the Emergency Department due to mental health, substance use, violence and related issues.
The Hospital Navigators support those aged 11-25 and signpost them to the right provision, including all the work we do at Together As One. Since most referrals are received out of hours, our Hospital Navigators can contact the young person directly to offer support whenever they need it.
Within a year, 310 young people were referred to the scheme. Max was one of the 158 who were supported onto a positive pathway to help break the cycle of readmission.
Following the initial engagement, the Hospital Navigators spoke to Max’s mum – who confirmed she’d appreciate any support. After giving Max time and space to think things over, they followed up with a phone call and hashed out a plan to provide continued support.
A couple of months later, Max attended his first session at Volunteer Night in August 2022 and has been engaging in many of our provisions ever since.
As well as coming to our weekly Volunteer Night, where he participates in many community projects like our bee-keeping project, he also attends our SEND Youth Forum where he advocates for young people with SEND.
During the holidays, he takes part in our HAF provision, Global Grub, where young people can learn how to cook, play games and get stuck into crafting activities. Max rated it a solid 10/10 – saying it provided a great space to socialise and learn new skills.
In total, Max has completed 131 sessions which amounts to 405.5 hours! We’re so proud of his progress so far and his transformation into a confident and engaging young person.
If you’d like more information about Hospital Navigators, get in touch with Romaan at [email protected].
*Name changed to protect privacy.
by Safiya Allaf | Jan 8, 2025 | Mental Health, Stories, Young people's voices, Youth Work
A warm welcome to Raheem Adris-Briggs our new Project Worker.
Born and raised in Slough, Raheem’s journey to TAO is rooted in his passion for writing, mental health advocacy and empowering young people. From first dipping his toe into Together As One as a volunteer to becoming a full-time member of staff, Raheem has been dedicated to making a positive impact from day one.
We caught up with Raheem to learn about his experience, passions and how he supports our young people.
Tell us about yourself
Born in Slough, I’ve spent most of my life here. I went to Westgate and then Windsor College before going to The University of Roehampton where I worked towards a degree in Creative and Professional Writing. As an aspiring Journalist, I hope to use my writing to speak about my various passions, including sports and, most importantly, mental health.
How did you get into working with children and young people?
It’s a funny story, actually. For one of my modules at Uni, I was required to find and undertake a work placement. My mum has always worked with young people, so I asked if she knew anyone to help. She mentioned a great guy who runs youth provisions, including a volunteer night every Tuesday – his name was Rob. So, she put me in touch. Rob was great, told me more about Volunteer Night, and I started helping out every week. Little did I know, that I would end up staffing that same Volunteer Night with the team, among other groups and projects.
What made you decide to join TAO?
For me, feeling comfortable and surrounded by a collective of like-minded people is really important. Since my early days volunteering, everyone at TAO made me feel welcome and valued. It’s not a given that you can be your authentic self everywhere you work, but it is at TAO. It is a great environment to tailor your skills, develop your strengths and be yourself.
On a more personal level, I’ve seen a lot growing up in Slough, which has not only affected me but my friends and classmates. As someone lucky enough to navigate through the tribulations, I hope to help young people do the same by being a positive role model.
What have been your highlights of working with TAO so far?
I think it’s the small things that mean the most a lot of the time. I’ve had children come up to me and say, “Thank you, you made me feel happy today.” I’ve witnessed the young people I work with on BOOST progress towards their goals, whether that is falling back in love with their hobbies or starting to understand the way they work. It’s a blessing to be in a position where you can make a difference in the many lives you encounter.
The office also has such a good vibe – everyone on the team is so friendly, approachable and eager to learn from one another. It makes all the difference.
Your role is all about empowering young people, what makes you feel empowered?
I would say being heard – not just having someone hear what you say, but listening on a deeper level. And likewise, actively listening to others. Good conversations with respectful people can teach you a lot about others and yourself too.
What activities and/or hobbies bring you joy?
Listening to music is probably my biggest hobby at the moment. I’ve recently started collecting vinyl, which has deepened my enjoyment and experience. I’m big on Frank Ocean, Travis Scott, SZA and Billie Eilish – if it sounds good or interesting, I’ll find enjoyment in it.
Recently, writing poetry has been another big one for me. It’s helped me process and come to terms with many things in my life. Going to poetry nights and performing has also developed my confidence in public speaking and talking openly about my emotions, which is so important.
I love sport, too. Football and basketball are my favourites to watch and play. Although I am a Manchester United fan, sometimes supporting my team brings me more pain than pleasure.
What do you think makes a good and connected community?
I would say a space where people feel safe to express themselves and are willing to learn from one another. There is peace in understanding that we all think and behave differently, as that is what makes us unique. Connection comes from respecting one another and empowering everyone to have a voice.
What piece of advice would you give to your younger self?
Stay the course – trust in yourself, and trust in God. You are becoming the person that you are meant to be not in spite of, but because of the challenges you face.
In his new role, Raheem supports young people through BOOST, Hive, Hive+, Navigators and Volunteer Night. Get in touch with Raheem at 07743560263 or email him at [email protected]
by [email protected] | Nov 25, 2024 | Mental Health, Policy
We are thrilled to share that our Boost Project has been featured in a landmark report by the prominent mental health organisation, Rethink Mental Illness. The report, titled Towards a Cohesive Whole, emphasises the critical role of the voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) sector in bridging service gaps and providing early, holistic support for mental health needs. However, it also calls for stronger and more effective collaboration between the NHS and the VCSE sector.
Our Boost Project is proudly showcased as one of seven successful examples of partnerships between the NHS and the voluntary sector, highlighting how collaboration can enhance the delivery of care.
Key Findings
The report underscores the urgent need for a cohesive, whole-system approach to address the mental health needs of children and young people (CYP). Among its key findings are:
- One in five young people in England lives with a mental illness or disorder, yet nearly half lack access to the support they need.
- A comprehensive strategy is essential to close this treatment gap, prevent escalating mental health challenges, and ensure young people receive timely and effective care.
- The VCSE sector plays a vital role in delivering early intervention and holistic support, but it must be recognised as an equal partner to statutory services for its contributions to be fully realised.
- Dedicated funding is required to enable all components of the mental health system to work seamlessly together to support young people.
The report advocates for a transformative, long-term plan for CYP mental health, centred on integrating services across sectors and encouraging robust collaboration between the NHS and the VCSE sector. With the upcoming Ten Year Health Plan, there is a pivotal opportunity to establish a visionary framework for CYP mental health that prioritises a cohesive, whole-system approach.
This recognition of the Boost Project reinforces our commitment to creating impactful partnerships and delivering meaningful support to young people in need. We would like to thank our colleagues at UK Youth for supporting us in making the project happen and our colleagues at CAMHS for working with the collaborative ethos advocated by this report.
To read the report, please visit the Rethink Mental Illness website here.